Devils' Vladimir Zharkov (18), right, moves the puck as Providence Bruins' Maxime Sauve (7) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Devils' Vladimir Zharkov (18), right, moves the puck as Providence Bruins' Maxime Sauve (7) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Devils' Matt Taormina (20), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Maxime Sauve (7) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Devils' Matt Taormina (20), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Maxime Sauve (7) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Devils' Matt Taormina (20), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Andrew Bodnarchuk (2) pursues behind the net during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Devils' Matt Taormina (20), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Andrew Bodnarchuk (2) pursues behind the net during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Devils' Stephen Gionta (11), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Josh Hennessy (11) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Devils' Stephen Gionta (11), left, controls the puck as Providence Bruins' Josh Hennessy (11) defends during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Devils' Nathan Perkovich (14), center, charges the puck against Providence Bruins' Kirk MacDonald (13), left, and Kevan Miller (28) during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) less

Devils' Nathan Perkovich (14), center, charges the puck against Providence Bruins' Kirk MacDonald (13), left, and Kevan Miller (28) during their hockey game on Friday, March 30, 2012, at Times Union Center in ... more

Photo: Cindy Schultz

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Gionta's goal a lift for Devils

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ALBANY — Goals haven't come as easily to Stephen Gionta as they did when he first turned pro, but he has fashioned a six-year American Hockey League career by doing whatever he can to help the Albany Devils.

When that contribution shows up on the scoresheet, all the better.

Gionta, with a stellar individual effort, scored the tie-breaking goal early in the third period Friday night to lead the Devils to a 4-3 victory over the Providence Bruins at Times Union Center.

He carried the puck out of the right-wing corner, beat three defenders to get to the front of the net, and batted in his own rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

That is as many goals as Gionta scored in three games when he first signed with the Devils' organization as a member of the 2005-06 Albany River Rats.

"He gets chances (to score)," Devils coach Rick Kowalsky said. "He's going to will his way to those chances. Hey, if he gets hot and rips off a couple here in these last two weeks, that's a good thing. There's no history there, that's all I'm saying. He's one of those guys that somehow manages to create chances every night, and most of it comes off hard work."

Gionta is the career leader for the six-year-old franchise for goals (55) and assists (78), but much of that is a testament to his longevity — 361 total AHL games.

At age 28, he provides valuable experience to a team trying to make the playoffs for only the second time in 11 seasons.

"As one of the leaders, I try to push the guys to do that, and hopefully they respond," Gionta said. "We have the last few games, and we have to keep going down the stretch here."

The victory pulled Albany to within two points of idle Manchester (73) for the Eastern Conference playoff spot, although there are still two teams — Adirondack (72) and Portland (72) — between the Devils (71) and the Monarchs.

Albany sealed its second consecutive victory with a goal by David Wohlberg, playing his second pro game after wrapping up his University of Michigan career.

After missing a penalty shot in the first period — he had the goalie beat but fanned on the shot — Wohlberg atoned by ripping a shot past Anton Khudobin to give the Devils a 4-2 advantage.

"My first game here was different," Wohlberg said. "Now I feel I'm part of the team and trying to help out."

Kowalsky has put his rookie on a line with Gionta and Brad Mills, and that seems to be working.

"I've been leaning on (Tim) Sestito, Gionta, Mills, (Matt) Anderson," Kowalsky said. "Those are your veteran guys. It's not so much about scoring. Each faceoff, every situation is so much more important. Their ice time has probably all been elevated."

The Devils twice fought back from one-goal deficits, getting goals from unlikely sources. Kory Nagy got his third of the season, and Dan Kelly scored his second.

"We had lots of offense," said Providence coach Bruce Cassidy, whose team outshot Albany 38-32. "That wasn't the issue. We made some poor decisions that led directly to goals."